Trump Advocates for Abolishing Daylight Saving Time
WASHINGTON—President-elect Donald Trump stated on Friday that the Republican Party “will make every effort” to abolish daylight saving time, describing it as “inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation.”
Daylight saving time—which involves advancing the clocks by one hour in the summer to maximize evening daylight—has been practiced in almost all parts of the United States since the 1960s but has sparked considerable debate in recent years.
Some legislators favor retaining standard time throughout the year, while others advocate for staying on daylight saving time year-round, and some prefer to maintain the current system. President Joe Biden has not publicly expressed his stance on the matter.
Advocates for keeping daylight saving time argue that it would result in brighter afternoons and evenings, leading to increased economic activity during the winter season. Opponents contend that it would compel children to walk to school in darkness due to the delayed sunrise.
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Supporters of completely abolishing daylight saving time argue that changing the clocks twice a year disrupts sleep patterns and can lead to health problems.
There have been no new congressional hearings on this topic in over two years, and the Senate would need to revisit the issue.
Year-round daylight saving time was implemented during World War Two and again in 1973 to reduce energy use amid an oil crisis, but it proved unpopular and was repealed the following year.
Since 2015, approximately 30 states have either introduced or enacted laws to eliminate the biannual clock changes, with some states indicating they would only proceed if their neighboring states follow suit.
By David Shepardson
